453 



^-iews, 11 pages. T. 'M. Scliacl has described the mechanics of preparing 

 the report.^^ 



The -findings and recommendations of the select committee 



The final report of the select committee identified five major cate- 

 gories of effort "needed in the future for meeting prospective de- 

 mands on a long-range basis so as not to inhibit national or regional 

 economic growth." These were: (1) regulating stream flow, (2) im- 

 proving quality of streams through pollution abatement, ' (3) im- 

 ju-oved use of underground storage, (4) conservation in use of water, 

 (5) artificial means of increasing availability of water. The com- 

 mittee found that the increasing complexity in development and 

 management of water resources required progressive emphasis on 

 science and technology to meet future requirements. Moreover : 



Without question, the number, complexity, and difficulty of the decisions con- 

 fronting the Congress and public officials concerned with water development and 

 management will multiply as the range of choice of alternative methods for 

 dealing with water problems becomes broader.^" 



Although many technical issues remained to be studied, this was no 

 reason for postponing action. Moreover, decisions should not be made 

 by the National Government in Washington on detailed aspects of river 

 basin management and development. There should be State participa- 

 tion in planning, and the views of State and local agencies should be 

 considered in connection with the formulation andoperation of all 

 Federal water resources programs. 



The meat of the select committee report was contained in its rec- 

 ommendations, presented as five items (although not the same five as 

 given in the findings). Although concisely written, each recommenda- 

 tion covered not only broad policy but specific approaches and action 

 l^rograms. The five points, taken together were in fact a comprehen- 

 sive program for national water management, involving coordinated 

 efforts at all levels of government, all levels of science and tech- 



^^ In "An Analyi^is of the Work of the Senate Select Committee on Xational Water Re- 

 sources." 1959-61. op. cit., p. 240, Schart writes : 



By late sprin?. 1960. most of the studies bein? undertaken for the committee had 

 been receiTed and made available to the consultants for study. Each study was quickly 

 printed and g-iven wide distribution, so that the committee could profit by the feed- 

 back of ideas thus stimulated. The committee staff met with the consultants often as 

 the studies were beinjr completed, and in late May a preliminary draft summ-^rizinf: 

 the results of the studies then completed was prepared by the staff for submission to 

 the committee. Portions of this report were necessarily blank, as the overall water 

 supply-demand study was not yet completed, but it served to put the staffs general 

 Ideas before th^ committee. 



The staff report was the basis for the committee's discussions at sever.al mf^otines 

 held durinjr .Tune 1960, and the members were asked to contribute their ideas for the 

 final report of the committee. At this point the session was interrunted for the presi- 

 dential nominatin,? conventions, and it was not until August 12, 1960. that thp Com- 

 mittee was again able to meet and approve an outline for its final report. A subcom- 

 mittee was authorized to meet and work on the report during tlie interim p<^riod prior 

 to convening the 87th Congress. That subcommittee considered the draft which thp 

 staff had prepared in accordance with the committee's outline, and at a meeting held 

 December 10, 1960. gave its directions for the preparation of the final committee 

 report. This was approved by the full committee at its meeting held .Tan. 12. 1961. 

 with additional changes of wording agreed to by the committee. At that time. also, the 

 committee authorized printing of additional material that had been furnished in 

 rebuttal to statements presented in the earlier hearings and in the committee prints, 

 and that material was published as a committee print. 

 ^= Select Committee on National Water Resources. Report * * * (1961), op. cit., pp. 1.5- 

 19. especially p. 16. 



